FG’s EEP to light up 37 universities, 7 teaching hospitals

The Federal Government FG has disclosed plans to provide uninterrupted power supply to 37 Federal Universities and seven University teaching hospitals through the Energizing Education Programme (EEP).

The programme is aimed at rejuvenating the nation’s education system.

This is contained in a statement from the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, on Monday in Abuja.

It said the project does not only entails solar powered street lighting as against misconceptions, but is majorly focused on providing an uninterrupted power supply with the Independent Power Plants (IPPS).

This will boost effective learning, innovation and advancement through an uninterrupted power supply, it said.

“In addition to helping to extend electrification to rural and underserved areas in which the institutions are located ultimately, the Programme will enable the institutions benefit from world-class training schools, for the training of students in renewable energy, as well as provide optimized security, for the safety and well-being of students and staff, through the installation of streetlights on campus which is only a small component of the Project,”the statement partly reads.

The agency noted that although implementation of the programme is led by the power sector, through it, the Vice Chancellors and the  Ministry of Education have signed onto the programme as a critical investment in the education sector.

While reacting to reports in a national daily about the programme, he warned that: “The deliberate attempt to water down the significant impact this Programme will have on the enhanced education of Nigerian students is outright unpatriotic as it seeks to prevent the socio-economic development of our nation.

“In addition to the open and transparent coverage of the milestones attained preparatory to the take-off of the Project like the Meetings and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the REA and the first set of participating tertiary institutions, the Ministry holds itself ready to provide further details to the media and any other interested entities to stem any further misrepresentation.”